'Newtown: An Evening of Remembrance' marks five years since Sandy Hook massacre

Thursday

Nov 30, 2017 at 12:01 AMDec 8, 2017 at 4:28 PM

December 14 marks five years since 20 young children and six adults were shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. During these five years, the United States has continued to experience mass shootings on a regular basis

Wendall Waters wwaters@wickedlocal.com @ttranscript

Dec. 14 marks five years since 20 young children and six adults were shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. During these five years, the United States has continued to experience mass shootings on a regular basis.

HUGS - Hands up for Gun Safety - will commemorate victims of gun violence during "Newtown, an Evening of Remembrance," Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Meeting House of the Congregational Church of Topsfield. Following a showing of the movie, “Newtown,” candles will be lit as the names of all 26 victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy are read aloud. There will also be an opportunity for guests to light a candle in honor and remembrance of other victims of gun violence.

HUGS' Susan Warner said one of the goals of the even is to keep the conversation going. Gun violence has become so prevalent, she said, "We forget and we tend to become numb." But, Topsfield could be Newtown just as Danvers or Boston could be Las Vegas. A mass shooting can happen anywhere, and we are at risk if we, as a country, don't deal with the issue, she said.

"As humans beings, we want to forget on a certain level," she said.

But, it's important to face the horror of mass shootings.

"We need to not be afraid of calling it what it is," Warner said.

She said she hopes this event will get people engaged and keep the dialogue going.

Dolly McIlvaine, also with HUGS, sees the Dec. 14 event as a "solemn evening of remembrance."

She said as a school counselor in a town similar to Topsfield, "Sandy Hook shook me to the core."

Warner and McIlvaine both point out that while research has led to safety measures in cars and campaigns to stop smoking, the Centers for Disease Control have been prevented from studying gun violence, which they see as a public health issue.

They hope that "Newtown, an Evening of Remembrance," will get people engaged and committed to attending an adult educational forum, called "Caught in the Crosshairs: The Intersection of Gun Violence and Public Health," which HUGS will sponsor at the Emerson Center on Jan. 6. The forum will feature Topsfield resident Angus McQuilken, who co-founded the Mass Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. Sen. Joan Lovely and Rep. Brad Will sit on a panel.

If you go

What: "Newtown: An Evening of Remembrance"

When: Thursday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m.

Where: The Meeting House of Congregational Church of Topsfield, 9 East Common St.

Details: Screening of the movie, "Newtown"; Lighting of candles to honor victims of gun violance; the reading of names of Sandy Hook Victims; a moment of prayer